degree of life and power among the people at one stage, we might without interrupting their devotion in singing and praying, withdraw to the other stage and preach to as many as might wish to hear. 3. We have the ground within the tents illuminated at night by candles, which we fix to the stage, the trees, and other places prepared for the purpose. These candles, with the light of the fires, keep the whole ground sufficiently illuminated. On some occasions, I have seen at these meetings as many as 120 candles burning at the same time. These lights in a dark night, when the evening is calm, add greatly to the solemnity of the meeting. 4. We generally appoint a guard, or watch, of a sufficient number of men, and request them by. turn to walk all night through and around the incampment, to prevent disorderly persons from doing mischief, either in disturbing the people, or their property. 5. We proceed in our religious exercises as follows: soon after the first dawn of day, a person walks all round the ground in front of the tents, blowing a trumpet as he passes; which is to give the people notice to rise; about ten minutes after the trumpet is blown again with only one long blast; upon which, the people in all their tents begin to sing, and then pray, either in their tents, or at the door of them, as is most convenient. At the rising of the sun a sermon is preached, after which we eat breakfast. We have preaching again at 10 o'clock, and dine about one. We preach again at 3 o'clock, eat supper about the setting of the sun, and have preaching again at candle light. We generally begin these meetings on Fridays, and continue them until the Monday following about the mid dle of the day. I have known these meetings to continue without any intermission for two nights and a day, or longer. The people being continually engaged in singing, praying, preaching, or exhorting without any cessation. But these meetings are varied, both with regard to the form and duration, according to the judgment of the preachers who attend them. I have known some Camp-Meetings to continue eight or ten days. Indeed these meetings have never been authorized by the Methodists, either at their general or annual conferences. They have been allowed of; but we, as a body of people, have never made any rules or regulations about them; we allow our presiding elders and travelling preachers to appoint them when and where they please, and to conduct them in what manner they think fit. Of course the form of a Camp meeting, as given above, is not the form of all the meetings of the kind, but of such as I my. self have regulated or attended. In this HISTORY there is such a collection of facts, and such a clear, plain, and full account of the Methodists, that he that runs may read, and he that reads may understand that the Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.It will here be seen, that from a very small beginning, we haye grown to be a numerous people. In 1771 we had only 316 members in society; in. 1780 we had 8504; in 1790 we had 57,621; in 1800 we had 64,894; and in 1809 we have 163,038. In 1809 bishop Asbury collected the names of all the Local Preachers in connection with the Methodists; and, according to his account, there were 1610 local preachers in the United States. I wish that we may increase in grace, as fast as we have in numbers. FINIS. INDEX. A Asbury, Francis, came to America fined retired to Delaware leaves Delaware, and visits Virginia. Articles of religion page. 38- 60 64 73 94 251 265 108 B Bands, rules for them how to be tried с Classes, institution of Conferences, the first held in England the first held in America Bishops, when first stiled so Boston, the first preacher sent there first formed in the Province of Maine 33 182 164 15 216 227 16 45 Church, Methodist Episcopal, when formed Coke, rev. Dr. first came to America 176 233 quarterly meeting, first named so 299 270,348 94 91 125, 246 351 297 113 117 318 E Coloured, or black people, how to be ordained first meeting of last meeting of D page. 270 149 -151 155 Disputes among members, how to be settled 76, 180 Elders, presiding, when established 69 183 F how to make a donation to it, by will 244 Shore H Hammit, William, leaves the Methodists J Jarratt, rev. D. formed societies L Lovefeasts, rules concerning Meeting-house, first built in America the first built in Baltimore the first built on the Eastern the first built in New-England 206 208 43 81 48 M 25 49 50 148 Members, decrease thereof increase and decrease for five years total number throughout the world 280,359 Methodism, rise in Europe rise in America Methodist, name first given Minutes, first printed preachers first came to Virginia N 233 280 11 24 10 40 100,118 Nantucket, when first visited by the Metho- dists 202 New-England, the first circuit when formed 142, 147 raises a party 179 196 202 stiles his party "The Christian Church.” 205 quarterage increased for them and their wives, and fixed for their children 267 first sent to Kentucky and Georgia first sent to the Province of Maine Europeans, leave America their deaths, first noticed in the mi- not to stay more than two years, &c. 298 Preachers, local, how to be licensed how they may obtain ordination Persecution, Asbury fined |